Restore Your Smile With a Crown or Bridge
Missing a tooth or teeth can seriously disrupt your life, causing problems when you bite, chew, or speak. You can restore your smile at Lakewood Dental with a crown or bridgework.
You’ll receive the best care at our Batesville office from when you contact our team to the day you see your beautifully restored smile.
Porcelain Crowns
A crown or cap is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that we cannot correct with fillings or restorations.
There are several types of crowns, but porcelain, or tooth-colored, crowns are the most popular because they resemble your natural teeth.
Porcelain crowns are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, we may need to replace them eventually. Porcelain crowns are customized to match the shape, size, and color of your teeth, giving you a natural, long-lasting, beautiful smile.
Reasons for Crowns
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Cosmetic enhancement
- Decayed teeth
- Fractured fillings
- Large fillings
- The tooth has had a root canal
The Process of Getting a Crown
A crown procedure usually requires two appointments. At your first appointment, we'll take several highly accurate impressions that our doctors will use to create your custom crown.
We'll also use that mold to create a temporary crown which will stay on your tooth for about one to two weeks until a dental laboratory fabricates your new crown.
While the tooth is numb, the doctor will prepare it by removing any decay and shaping the surface to fit the crown properly.
Once we have all the details, we'll place your temporary crown with temporary cement and check your bite to ensure optimal function.
At your second appointment, the doctor and assistant will remove your temporary crown, clean the tooth, and carefully place your new crown on with a permanent cement.
You'll leave with thorough care instructions to maintain your new crown and keep your smile in shape. We'll check your crown at regular dental visits to ensure it's still in place and functioning as it should.
Porcelain Fixed Bridges
A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance and is an excellent way to replace missing teeth. Dental bridges are highly durable and long-lasting; however, they may need replacement or re-cemented due to normal wear.
There are several types of bridges, so you and your dentist will discuss the best options for your unique smile. The traditional bridge is the most popular type and is usually made of high-strength porcelain and closely resembles your natural teeth.
Traditional porcelain bridges consist of two crowns that go over two anchoring, or abutment, teeth and are attached to pontics (artificial teeth), filling the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
Reasons for a Fixed Bridge
- Fill the space of missing teeth
- Maintain facial shape
- Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position
- Restore chewing and speaking ability
- Restore your smile
- Upgrade from a removable partial denture to a permanent dental appliance
The Process of Getting a Bridge
Getting a bridge usually requires two or more visits. While the teeth are numb, the doctor will prepare the two anchoring teeth by removing a portion of enamel to allow for a crown.
Next, we'll take a highly accurate impression that we'll send to a dental laboratory where the bridge will be fabricated. In addition, a temporary bridge will be made and worn for several weeks until your next appointment.
On your second visit, we'll check your permanent bridge, make any adjustments, and cement it to get a good fit.
You will receive care instructions after your treatment. Proper brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits will ensure the longevity of your new permanent bridge.
When We Use Procera® Crowns
Unlike most of the body, teeth do not have extensive healing capabilities. Therefore, once the tooth's enamel (or surface) is injured somehow, it can't heal itself.
At Lakewood Dental, we use dental crowns to stabilize damaged teeth and permanently prevent further damage. Trauma, bacterial infections, or decay may injure enamel. We often use crowns to seal teeth after root canal therapy.
Procera® crowns have many advantages over the porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) alternative, including:
- Exact color matching – We can create Procera® crowns in a color that will perfectly match the color of existing teeth. This means the restoration is invisible to onlookers.
- No metal base – The partially ceramic traditional crowns look somewhat natural on top, but an unsightly metal band still exists near the tooth's base. Procera® crowns eliminate the metal aspect.
- Biocompatibility – Procera® crowns are engineered to encourage the gums to grow back around them. This means that eventually, full gum symmetry and stability are achieved.
- Custom fitting – Highly skilled technicians create custom Procera® crowns to ensure a perfect fit.
Learn More About Crowns & Bridges
Please contact our Batesville office if you have questions or concerns about a porcelain or Procera® crown or porcelain bridges. Our team is always happy to guide you through your dental journey to help you get your best smile.